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The Ultimate Meditators’ Menu

meditation and food

Choose your food wisely and clear the way for a blissful meditation experience

Ever thought that food could be a secret to deeper meditation? Here’s a food guide designed exclusively for meditators to help them go deeper

Have you ever had one of those days when you sit to meditate but you either feel sleepy or are bombarded by nothing less than two zillion thoughts? And you find yourself wondering what did I do? Maybe not always but quite often what you eat could be one of the reasons why you find it difficult to meditate. Let us look at how food plays an integral role in determining a good or not-so-good meditation experience.

You are what you eat

Once upon a time in India, there lived three friends – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. They were very close to each other but very different in nature.

Tamas was inclined towards resting but would very easily slip into laziness. He would keep lying around all day, dull and lethargic, and not do any work. But he was very active in eating – he would gorge on all sorts of junk food and meat.

Rajas was focused on action but was also the fidgety kind. He would be restless, with countless thoughts on his mind and numerous tasks at hand to be done. In food, he was extremely fond of hot and spicy preparations, and sweets made with excess sugar.

The wisest among them was Sattva. He was a natural balance of calmness and enthusiasm. He was extremely careful of his eating habits and would eat only as much as was needed by his body at a time. Freshly-cooked green vegetables and grains, fruits and juices comprised his primary diet. As such, he remained healthy, light and energetic throughout the day (unlike his dear friend Tamas), and also displayed clear and logical thinking.

Which of the three friends do you like and who among them would you like to be your best friend? Well, all the three are already a part of your life, your friends - Tamas helps you have a good sleep at night, Rajas keeps you active during the day, propelling you to carry out activity, and Sattva keeps your spirits high. But of the three, try and make Sattva your best friend so that you too can accept his qualities in your life. A higher Sattva helps you enjoy a deeper meditation. Choose your food wisely and clear the way for a blissful meditation experience.

Know your personality type, choose your diet

Each body type has a unique natural constitution – vata, pitta and kapha. Knowing which of these is you can help you change your eating habits in order to stay healthy and balanced, and also have deeper meditation.
 

Do you … Personality type What to eat What to avoid
♦ Feel hungry at any time of the day or night
♦ Love excitement and constant change
♦ Walk and speak quickly		 You may be a vata personality Fruits – banana, orange, peaches;
vegetables – asparagus, fresh peas, okra (cooked using light spices and little oil);
grains – porridge or well-cooked whole grains of rice and wheat;
dairy – small quantities of milk, buttermilk, fresh cheese, curd and butter		 Fruits - unsoaked dry fruits, raw apples and melons, and raw salads, as they increase dryness, and cause constipation and indigestion;
vegetables – broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, as they cause gas;
pulses – difficult to digest beans, chickpeas and red beans;
sweeteners – white sugar;
spices – red and green chilli
♦ Feel frantically hungry if dinner is even half an hour late
♦ Live by your watch (generally an expensive one) and regret having your time wasted
♦ Wake up at night feeling hot and thirsty
♦ Take command of a situation or feel that you should		 You may be a pitta personality Fruits – grapes, coconut, avocado;
vegetables – asparagus, cauliflower, cabbage;
grains – wheat, rice, barley;
dairy – fresh milk, butter, buttermilk		 Fruits – very sour fruits;
grains – white flour (pizza, white bread),
sweeteners – white sugar;
spices – pickle, spicy condiments, sour salads, dressings, vinegar, red and green chilli
♦ Think over for a long time before a decision
♦ Wake up slowly, lie in bed a long time
♦ Be happy with the status quo and preserve it by pacifying others
♦ Seek emotional comfort from eating
♦ Have graceful movements and a gliding walk, even if overweight		 You may be a kapha personality Fruits – lemon, apple, pomegranate;
vegetables – pumpkin, beetroot, green leafy vegetables;
grains – corn, millet;
dairy – goat's milk, unsalted buttermilk;
spices – all spices are good, though ginger is best		 Grains – white flour (bread, pizza, pastries);
dairy – curd;
sweetener - white sugar

5 quick tips to enjoy your meditation

  • Switch to vegetarianism- It is healthy and also makes meditation happen more easily.
  • Eat more of fresh fruits and green vegetables- Include foods rich in fiber and whole grains in your diet.
  • Drink lots of water- It's good to consume at least two liters of water every day. Choose fresh juices over carbonated drinks.
  • Eat the right amount- It is not a good idea to overstuff yourself because too full a stomach makes meditation difficult.
  • Follow a sattvic diet- Higher sattva levels in the body help towards a deeper meditation experience.

Note: To know about your own body constitution (prakriti) and get personal advice on the suitable food type for a deeper meditation, consult a Sri Sri Ayurveda doctor and get your Nadi Pariksha done (an ancient method of pulse diagnosis).

Eat well, meditate well and live well.

Inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's wisdom talks

Comments

Hi Learning how to relax may

Hi Learning how to relax may help you head off a panic attack. You can learn to relax thogurh a variety of techniques, such as meditation, muscle relaxation, relaxed breathing and guided imagery (visualization).Relaxation is more than getting away from the work-a-day grind, and it's more than the absence of stress. It's a specific, intentional action that's positive and satisfying — a feeling in which you experience peace of mind. True relaxation requires becoming sensitive to your basic needs for peace, self-awareness and thoughtful reflection and having the willingness to meet these needs.Relaxation techniques can help lessen the discomfort and duration of the signs and symptoms of stress, such as headaches, anxiety, high blood pressure, trouble falling asleep, hyperventilation, and clenching or grinding your teeth. One simple method is to remove yourself from a stressful situation, block the world out and concentrate on your body. These steps can help you relax:-Sit or lie in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Allow your jaw to drop and your eyelids to be relaxed and heavy, but not tightly closed.-Mentally scan your body. Start with your toes and work slowly up thogurh your legs, buttocks, torso, arms, hands, fingers, neck and head. Focus on each part individually. Where you feel tension, imagine it melting away.-Tighten the muscles in one area of your body. Hold the muscles for a count of five or more before relaxing and moving on to the next area. This is a good method for releasing tension. Tighten the muscles of your face, shoulders, arms, legs and buttocks.-Allow thoughts to flow thogurh your mind, but don't focus on any of them. Many people find using autosuggestion to be a great help. Suggest to yourself that you're relaxed and calm, that your hands are heavy and warm (or cool if you're hot), that your heart is beating calmly, and that you feel perfectly at peace.-Breathe slowly, regularly and deeply during the procedure. Once you're relaxed, imagine you're in a favorite place or in a spot of great beauty and stillness. After five or 10 minutes, rouse yourself from the state gradually. To maximize the benefits of these stress-reduction techniques, be sure to also get adequate sleep, eliminate caffeine and other stimulants from your diet, and engage in regular exercise. About 30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity most days of the week can improve your psychological well-being.
Submitted by David (not verified) on 21 November, 2012 - 02:30. |

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